Animal Phylum Flashcards

"Phylum Porifera = The Sponges"

"Habitat: Marine and freshwater. | Body Structure: Cellular level of organization with a porous body. The canal system facilitates water flow, aiding in respiration and nutrient intake. | Reproduction: Asexual by fragmentation, sexual by gamete formation. Sponges are hermaphroditic. | Examples: Sycon, Spongilla, Euspongia."

"Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria) = The Cnidarians"

"Habitat: Mostly marine, some freshwater. | Body Structure: Radially symmetrical, diploblastic with tissue-level organization. Cnidoblasts contain nematocysts for prey capture. | Forms: Exhibit two forms: polyp (sessile) and medusa (free-swimming). Many, like Obelia, exhibit alternation of generations. | Examples: Hydra, Jellyfish (Aurelia), Sea Anemone (Adamsia), Coral (Meandrina)."

"Phylum Ctenophora = The Comb Jellies"

"Habitat: Exclusively marine. | Body Structure: Diploblastic, radially symmetrical. Eight rows of ciliated comb plates facilitate locomotion. | Unique Feature: Bioluminescent and reproduce sexually. | Examples: Pleurobrachia, Ctenoplana."

"Phylum Platyhelminthes = The Flatworms"

"Body Structure: Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, and acoelomate. Body is flattened dorsoventrally. | Habitat: Parasitic in nature, found in animals and humans. | Features: Possess hooks and suckers. Specialized flame cells aid in excretion. | Examples: Tapeworm (Taenia), Liver fluke (Fasciola)."

"Phylum Aschelminthes = The Roundworms"

"Body Structure: Triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical, pseudocoelomate with a cylindrical shape. | Features: Complete digestive tract; sexes are separate. Parasitic and free-living species exist. | Examples: Ascaris (Roundworm), Wuchereria (Filarial worm), Ancylostoma (Hookworm)."

"Phylum Annelida = The Segmented Worms"

"Body Structure: Triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical, coelomate, metamerically segmented with organ-system level of organization. | Habitat: Aquatic and terrestrial, often found in moist environments. | Features: Closed circulatory system, nephridia for excretion, and parapodia for locomotion in some species. | Examples: Earthworm (Pheretima), Leech (Hirudinaria), Marine worms (Nereis)."

"Phylum Arthropoda = The Arthropods"

"Body Structure: Triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical, coelomate with segmented body and jointed appendages. Exoskeleton made of chitin. | Features: Open circulatory system, diverse respiratory organs (gills, book lungs, trachea), and Malpighian tubules for excretion. | Examples: Insects (Apis, Locusta), Arachnids (Scorpion), Crustaceans (Prawn)."

"Phylum Mollusca = The Mollusks"

"Body Structure: Soft-bodied, coelomate, unsegmented with calcareous shells. Organ-system level with mantle and radula for feeding. | Habitat: Mostly marine; some are freshwater or terrestrial. | Examples: Pila (Apple snail), Sepia (Cuttlefish), Octopus."

"Phylum Echinodermata = The Echinoderms"

"Body Structure: Radial symmetry in adults, triploblastic, coelomate with calcareous endoskeleton. | Features: Water vascular system aids in locomotion and feeding; excretory system absent. | Examples: Starfish (Asterias), Sea cucumber (Cucumaria), Sea urchin (Echinus)."

"Phylum Hemichordata = The Acorn Worms"

"Body Structure: Cylindrical, coelomate, bilaterally symmetrical. | Features: Organ-system level, open circulatory system, with gills for respiration. | Examples: Balanoglossus, Saccoglossus."

"Phylum Chordata = The Chordates"

"Key Characteristics: Presence of a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, and pharyngeal gill slits at some stage of development. | Sub-phyla: Urochordata: Notochord present in the larval tail, e.g., Ascidia. Cephalochordata: Notochord extends throughout life, e.g., Amphioxus. Vertebrata: Notochord replaced by vertebral column in adults. Sub-divided into classes like Pisces (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes), Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia. | Examples: Lamprey, Sharks, Frogs, Snakes, Birds, Mammals (e.g., humans, lions, elephants)."